Suction fancy for carding cylinders



March 4, 1959 J. F. MILLER 2,878,525

SUCTION FANCY FOR CARDING CYLINDERS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 15, 1956 INVENTOR. JOSEPH F. MILLER YZIMZW 3 ATTORNEY United States Patent 2,878,525 SUCTION FANCY FOR CARDING CYLINDERS Joseph F. Miller, Dayville, Conn. Application November 15, 1956, Serial No. 622,292 2 Claims. (CI. 19-98) This invention relates to improving the carding effect of carding cylinders and more particularly to pneumatic means for replacing the mechanical fancy roller.

One of the objects of the present invention is to replace the fancy roller of a carding machine with a pneumatic means which will achieve the same result more efficiently and economically.

In the past the fancy was a small cylinder or roller covered with a wire brush. The fancy was positioned between the main carding cylinder and the doffer. The bristles of the wire brush contacted the woolen fiber web on the main carding cylinder and picked up the web so that it was delivered to the doffer which transferred the web to the condenser. a

The fancy rotated at a relative high speed compared to the rotation of the main carding cylinder. The wire brush bristles created fly waste upon contacting the soft woolen web. The fly waste covered floor and machinery alike with the consequent loss of web stock in the carding operation.

In addition the wire brush of the fancy filled with web stock which reduced the efficiency of the fancy. This necessitated stopping the carding operation periodically to strip the brush of the web stock. The friction of the wire brush on the main carding cylinder caused wear on both the brush and cylinder necessitating periodic stoppage of the carding operation to replace worn parts.

The present invention obviates these undesirable conditions by providing a pneumatic suction means which raises the web off the main carding cylinder and transfers the web to the doffer in a continuous process without the loss of stock waste, stripping or part replacement shutdown.

The patent to E. Clark No. 2,541,407 which issued on February 13, 1951 is representative of the use of air suction on a carding cylinder. In the past as this patent clearly defines air suction was employed to perform the stripping action.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a pneumatic replacement for the mechanical fancy which increases the yield of the web stock delivered from the carding machine ready for roving while eliminating work stoppage of the carding machine for stripping and part replacing. A cleaner, healthier atmosphere is created for the workers.

Other objects of the present invention will become apparent in part and be pointed out in part in the following specification and claims.

Like reference numerals refer to like parts in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary side elevational view showing the main carding cylinder, dolfer and new suction fancy.

Figure 2 is a plan view of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a right hand end elevational view of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a transverse cross sectional view taken along line 4-4 of Figure 2.

2,878,525 Patented Mar. 24, 1959 Figure 5 is a perspective view of the new and improved suction fancy for carding cylinders.

Figure 6 is a'perspective view of the top and back housing of the new suction fancy.

Figure 7 is a fragmentary perspective view of the base and top supporting partitions of the new suction fancy.

Figure 8 is a perspective view of a prototype electric motor used in the new suction fancy.

Referring to the drawing wherein the conventional main carding cylinder 10 and doffer cylinder 11 housed in frame 12 are illustrated. Brackets 13, 14 which formerly supported the fancy roller are now employed to support the frame or housing 15 of the new suction fancy.

Frame or housing 15 consists of a base 16 fabricated preferably from sheet metal and formed with a bottom horizontal front strip 17, an intermediate inclined strip 18 and a lower back strip 19 connected to intermediate inclined strip 18 through upright wall 20. A plurality of partitions, shown as consisting of four in number 21, 22, 23 and 24 are preformed in their bases to the shape provided in base 16 by bottom horizontal front strip 17, intermediate inclined strip 18, lower back strip 19 and upright wall 20. Partitions 21, 22, 23 and 24 are secured to base 16 as by welding.

A combined top and back cover 25 is preferably fabricated from sheet metal and formed with a top horizontal front strip 26, an inclined top strip 27, a horizontal crown strip 28 and a vertically projecting back 30 which is provided with a rectangular opening 31. A plurality of motor blade orifices, shown as consisting of five in number 32, 33, 34, 35, 36 are provided in horizontal crown strip 28.

The top edges of partitions 21, 22, 23 and 24 are PTO.- vided-with a contour which is complementary with the shape in top and back housing 25 formed by top horizon- I tal front strip 26, inclined top strip 27,,horizontal crown strip 28 and vertically projecting back 30.

Combined top and back housing 25 is placed over base 16 and is supported by and welded to partitions 21, 22, 23, 24. The result is illustrated in cross section Figure 4, wherein bottom horizontal front strip 17 and top horizontal front strip 26 form a narrow opening or throat 40. Intermediate inclined strip 18 and inclined top strip 27 along with horizontal crown strip 28 form a chamber 41 which is tapered from forward to aft as it connects with throat 26 which tapers forwardly to an opening greatly reduced in height as compared with the height of chamber 41 between intermediate inclined strip 18 and horizontal crown strip 28. The tapering of throat 26 forwardly is to create a narrow opening in throat 26 so that the suction created in chamber 41 will be increased in intensity at said opening. Upright wall 20, lower back strip 19, the after section of horizontal crown strip 28 and vertically projection back 30 form a well 42. Partitions 21, 22, 23, 24 divide throat 26, chamber 41 and well 42 longitudinally into five sections 43, 44, 45, 46 and 47 as illustrated when Figures 6 and 7 are combined. End pieces 50 and 51 of the same contour as partitions 21, 22 etc., are welded to the end of base 16 and top and back housing 25 to complete by enclosing sections 43 and 47. Each section 43, 44, 45, 46 and 47 is provided with a motor blade orifice 32, 33, 34, 35 and 36 respectively. An electric motor 52 having a shaft 53 and a blade 54 (see Figure 8) is provided for each motor blade orifice with the electric motor 52 removably secured to horizontal crown strip 28 with the blades 54 projecting into the respective chamber of sections 43, 44, etc.

An exhaust manifold 55 is secured to vertically projecting back 30 covering rectangular opening 31 so that exhaust chamber 56 is connected to well 42 through rectangular opening 31. A ventilating pipe 57 is connected to exhaust manifold 55 to vent chamber 56 to the atmosphere.

Two supporting rods 60, 61 secured to the underside of bottom horizontal front strip 17 and lower back strip 19 support housing 15 through base 16. Supporting rods 60, 61 are adjustably secured to brackets 13, 14 through bolts 62 and 63 so that the mouth 64 of throat 40 is adjustably positioned adjacent carding cylinder 10.

In operation fan blades 54 will create a suction in chamber 41 drawing air through throat 40 which is exhausted through rectangular opening 31, and exhaust chamber 56 and ventilating pipe 57.

The woolen fiber web 70 being advanced by main carding cylinder 10 will be drawn away from the main carding cylinder 10 to be transferred to doffer cylinder 11 by the suction at mouth 64. Fly, waste etc. are drawn through throat 40 to be exhausted through exhaust pipe 57. However, because the wire brush friction of the roller fancy is lacking, there will be less disturbance of the woolen fiber web and consequently less fly with more stock remaining in the web.

The fan blades move a volume of air through the exhaust opening. The tapered throat being smaller at the mouth than at the exhaust opening thus creates a greater suction force by restricting the mouth through which the air must enter.

Having shown and described a preferred embodiment of the present invention, by way of example, but realizing that structural changes could be made and other examples given without departing from either the spirit or scope of this invention.

What I claim is:

1. A carding machine having a frame, a carding cylinder and a dotfer cylinder, both rotatively mounted in said frame, a housing supported in said frame adjacent said carding cylinder and between said carding cylinder and said doffer cylinder, said housing extending the full width of said carding cylinder, said housing comprising a base and a combination top and back cover provided with a ventilating opening in said back and a plurality of orifices in said top, said base and combination top and back cover forming a chamber which tapers from forward toward said ventilating opening, a plurality of electric motors each provided with a blade, said motors secured to said top with said blades projecting into said chamber through said orifices, said blades creating a suction in said chamber, said suction being uniform and simultaneous across the full width of the carding cylinder to draw a traveling web away from said carding cylinder for engagement with said dofier cylinder.

2. A suction fancy for a carding cylinder consisting of a housing comprising a base having a plurality of partitions, a combined top and back cover secured to said base and to said plurality of partitions to form a series of chambers between said partitions, said chambers tapering forwardly to form a throat, said back cover having an opening ventilating said chambers to the atmosphere, a plurality of motor blade orifices in said top and back cover, a plurality of motors each provided with a fan blade, one for each chamber, supported on said top and back cover with the fan blades projecting through said motor blade orifices into said chambers, said carding cylinder having a frame for rotation therein and a dotfer cylinder rotatively mounted in said frame, said base secured to said frame between said carding cylinder and said dofier cylinder with said throat adjacent said carding cylinder, said plurality of motors creating a suction in said plurality of chambers, said suction traveling from said throat to said opening ventilating to the atmosphere, said suction acting simultaneously on the full width of said carding cylinder.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,079,392 Campbell Nov. 25, 1913 FOREIGN PATENTS 9,766 Great Britain of 1912 423,609 France Apr. 22, 1911 

